I'm not saying I'm about to take anyone on, with my health I'm not likely to come out very well after anyway cos I'd loose but if someone has broken into someone's property and the owner does them some damage no matter how or with what the home owner shouldn't have to stand any charges. Period!

What makes it doubly dangerous for the householder being robbed, is that the attacker is often, these days, high on some substance and so is very strong, mostly oblivious of what they're doing & can't be reasoned with. In those cases, pure survival should be paramount.
I wish there was a place or person to teach us some techniques to use in these circumstances. ( I mean everything from conventional self-defence to very specific ways, including places on the body etc, to stop an attacker in their tracks, disarm them etc, long enough to flee or get help.)

Kari........no amount of self defence training is going to help you when it is 3 or 4 in the morning and you are sound asleep,the very worst "state" to be in when confronted.
And when there are more than one or two aggressors,and they NEVER do it singly,and they hold the element of surprise......you are on the back foot anyway. So you have to try and be cool.......something that bank staff are continually told to do.....to be observant for descriptions,cultures,language,eyes,weapons......anything that can be a clue later on.

It's a lovely thought that to be able to spring out of wherever you are....bed,lounge,front door,etc.....and karate chop everybody in sight.
It just doesnt work that way......you freeze.....and do one of 2 things,literally faint,or screech........lol.

And remember if you DO want training in something,you wont get it for free,and you have to KEEP practicing continuously......not much point in a few lessons and then 10 years later.........hehehe.

Personally,and this learned the painful way,home detection and awareness.....think like a criminal,it's not hard to do (lol)......walk around your own home and study it......it wont take you long to see the easy spots.Out there in public......well,drop to the ground,as staying upright only presents a target. If YOU are the target,well.God help you!

Of course it goes without saying that to have your mobile ON you,not somwhere nearby,always ON,and always recharged right beside you overnight.But I guess men can only do that with their many pockets whereas women have everything in their handbags as their clothes are just not designed for "things"........!
And of course the handbag is the first thing to get taken!
I'm glad I'm a man......I'm literally an old aged Boy Scout.....the number of times my "junk" in my pockets have come to the rescue many times.
Cheers,
Peter

Gidday

Kari, probably the best weapon you can lay your hands on in a hurry is a broom. But never even think about swinging it.
Grab the broom handle right down by the head with your stronger hand, right if right handed, and the handle about half way along and gab it as hard as you can and as quick as you can. Because the head is right by your stronger hand it would be very hard to pull out of your hand and as the baddie could only grab the round handle you should still be able to jab it forward.

Practice it often and you would surprise yourself just how effective it can be. But remember in the real situation you jab that bloody handle with as much force and as fast as you can and as often as you can at anywhere that would hurt the most.

Years ago a very frail old man in his late 70's or 80's held off a raving excapee from a mental institution in Auckland for half an hour whilst waiting for the Police and when they did arrive the baddie was cowering in a corner of the old jokers back yard begging him to stop.